Button clamp



R. I. mews BUTTON CLAMP Filed Augus 4, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m I Q r WMEEF m Aw v Patented Aug.- 3]., 1926.

YATES ROBERT L. LYONS, OF WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO FREDERICK OSANN COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

5 BUTTON CLAMP.

' Application filed. August 4, 1924.

This invention relates to button clamps for button sewing machines particularly of that type which employs a single thread, though many features are wall adapted for other types of button sewing machines.

In a single thread machine if the last two strokes of the needle in sewing a button are passed through the same hole of the button and the work, the thread is knotted. It is therefore desirable that the button be so engaged by the .clamp as to be positively lifted at the end of the sewing operation so as to break the thread after the knot has been tied, to release the work from the machine. It is also important that the button be held down against the work during the sewing operation.

To accomplish both these actions this invention provides a construction having aw portions engaging both the upper and lower faces of the button, so constructed that they may conform automatically to buttons of different thickness without requiring adjustment. These jaw portions are also constructedso as to facilitate placing the buttons in position so that the time required for the operator to place successive buttons in position is reduced to the minimum.

Further it provides a construction whereby buttons of irregular thickness may be successfully and expeditiously handled, provision being made to prevent excessive tilting of the buttons even though they may be very irregular inthickness.

Mechanism is provided also by which the spacing of the jaws is readily adjusted to conform to buttons of different diameters.

The clamp may be used for either two or four hole buttons and, as when the four hole buttons are used there is a relative movement between the button and the sewing instrumentalities when changing from one set of two holes to the other set of two holes, means maybe provided for preventing the buttons from being pulled from between the jaws when this relative movement takes place in case this should be found necessary or desirable.

7 Further features and advantageous details and combinations of parts will appear from a more complete description of an embodiment 'of the invention disclosed in the accompanying drawings,'in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal Serial No. 729,881.

section of a single thread sewing machine employing the clamp of this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan of a two hole button. Figures 3 and 1 are sections on lines 3-3 and H, respectively, of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is aplan of a four hole button of a different size than the button shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

ing stitches to pass through the other two holes.

. Figures 12, 13 and 141 are front and side elevations, and a plan view, respectively, of

a button supporting and lifting element.

Referring to these drawings, first to Figure 1, 1 indicates the bed of the machine having a work or cloth plate 2 on which the work is supported and over which exten'dsthe head 3 of the machine in which is mounted for vertical reciprocative and laterally oscillatory movement, a needle bar at carrying a needle 5. Beneath the work plate and the machine head 1 is a looper mechanism 6. These parts shown are of the type disclosed in my prior application for patent, Serial Number 633,625, filed April 21, 1923, for button sewing machine. The button clamp indicated generally at 10 is shownas fixed to the forward end of an arm 11, the rear end of which is bent downwardly as at 12 and may be pivoted at 13 to a fixed lug lt when it is desired to sew two hole buttons, or its lower end as at 15, may be fixed to a slide movable lengthwise of the base of the machine and carrying the work plate, all as disclosed in the application above referred to, the former connection being'employed when two hole buttons are to be sewed and this latter connection being employed when it is desired to sew four hole buttons since it permits the button and the work to be moved lengthwise to bring the two pairs of les of a four hole button successively in line with the sewing instrumentalities including the needle and the looper. Whether the arm 11 is connected to the fixed lug or to the slide it may be raised upwardly, tilting about its pivotal connection with either one of these members to raise its forward end and the button, as will later appear, from the work. For the purpose of raising it a chain 20 is connected at 21 to the forward end of the arm 11, this chain extending to any suitable raising mechanism, usually treadle operated, in the usual manner.

The clamp itself comprises a supporting plate 25 fixed to the forward end of the arm 11 and having pivoted to its under side on the pivots 26 (see Figures 1 and 8) apair of side jaw members 27. These jaws comprise bars having their forward ends down turned as at 28 and then, as shown best in Figures 8 and 9, bent inwardly or toward each other as at 29. The adjacent ends of these bars, as at 30, are formed for engagement with substantially opposite edge portions of the buttons and in order that the buttons may be held down to the work, each is provided with an end flange or lip 31 adapted to project over the upper face of the button in position therebetween. Fixed to the portion 28 of each of these jaws is a leaf spring arm 32 (shown detached in Figures 12 to 1.4), attaching means for these springs being shown as the studs 33. Each spring arm passes down the rear of a jaw portion 28 and beneath the forwardly directed portion 34 of the jaw, their inner ends being turned toward each other and extending beyond the edge portions to form button supporting lips as at 35. This lip portion 35 also extends forwardly of the jaw portion 29 as at 36 in order to furnish a shelfon each side on which the buttons maybe placed and slid rearwardly into position beneath the upper lips 31. Each spring arm 32 is so designed that its portion 35 is normally held up against the under face of the jaw portion 34, but it is permitted to yield downwardly therefrom to an extent limited by a finger 38 bent up from its edge and overlying the upper face of the jaw portion 29. The spring arms may thus yield to permit buttons of varying thicknesses to be placed in position between them and the lips 31, but on raising the button clamp these arms are not permitted to separate from the jaw members 29 further than permitted by the fingers 38 engaging their upper faces. Sullicientmotion is permitted, however, to provide for the various thickness of buttons which it is desired to sew, the resiliency of these arms causing them to conform automatically to the thinner buttons and press them up against the lips 31. By causing these button-supporting arms to move up positively after a predetermined extent of resilient motion, the buttons are raised positively from the work table when the button clamp is raised and thethread is broken.

In order tohold these springs in proper relation to the ends of the button clamp they may be provided with upsljanding pins 39 which may play up and cown in suitable openings 390 in the portions 29 of the jaws.

Cooperating with these side jaws is a rear jaw 40 having its end 41 shaped to engage the edge of the button and being provided with a groove such as 42in substantially the same plane as the flanges 31. The edges of groove 42 form elements which extend over and under the button when it is placed between the jaws .and it prevents the rear edge thereof from tilting up or down to an extent sufficient to interfere with proper sewing of the button. The three jaws thus have a three point support about the periphery of the buttonon its upper side which tends to hold it sufiiciently level for the needleto pass through the sewing holes thereof even though the button may be quite irregular in thickness. The rear jaw 40 is fixed to a plate 45 slidable on the lower face of the plate 25. This plate 45 is held beneath the jaws 27, retaining them against the lower face of the plate 25, by means of a screw 46 passing through a slot in this plate and threaded into the plate 45 between the jaw member 27 This plate 45 is provided with a pair of converging slots 50 in which ride pins 51 projecting downwardly from thejaw members 27, these slots being so disposed that as the plate 45 is slid forwardly, bringing the rear jaw member 40 therewith, the side jaws are moved toward each other by the pins 51 riding into the more nearly adjacent ends of the slots.

The forward portions of the jaws 27 may be held against the lower face of the plate 25 by means of a T-shaped retaining plate 80 fixed at its central portion by'a screw 81 to the forward end of the'plate 25, the laterally extended portions 82 of this plate being spaced from the lower face of the plate 25 a suflicient distance for the jaws to pass therebetween.

In order that these jaws may be brought resiliently together to engage buttons of different diameters, means is provided for resiliently urging the plate 45 forwardly. As shown this is done by means of a plunger 55 having a reduced portion 56 about which a coil spring 57 isarranged, this spring pressing against the end portion of head 58. of the plunger and pushing it against the rear face of the plate 45. This spring 57 is seated within a suitable tube 60 (see Figure 1) and an adjusting screw 61 passing through the rear end of this tube bears against this-spring and serves to adjust the pressure which it exerts on the plunger .55.

7 Referring to Figure 10, it will be noted that a four hole button similar to that shown in Figures 5 and 6 is being sewed, the parts being so positioned that thesewlng is taking through the work from the needle and engaging the looper or else the needle itself is p'ass'ing'through the button and the work.

As the motion necessary to cause the stitches to pass through the forward set of twoholes can not be accomplished while the needle 1s in the work,it must be accomplished when the thread is in the work or in the position shown in Figure 10. The thread is then under some tension and therefore offers some resistan'ce'to'the movement ofthe button and in some cases it has been found sufficient, with the mechanism shown, to pull the button from'its proper position between the clamping jaws. This action is illustrated in Figure 11 in which-the button 64 is shown as moved 'rearwardly in line for the stitches to pass to the forward set of holes 66, as shown by the dotted line 2 2, while the thread passing fromth'e needle extends backwardlythrough the hole 65 and then forwardly to the'looper as shown by the full lines between the same points 'aa. In order that the tension on this thread may not in any case act to move the button from its proper position between the aws, it has sometimes been found useful to. employ a light coil spring extending between'the side ja'ws tending to pull'them together. In any case the amount of pressure'r'equired for this purpose is very slight, the spring57 being relied upon'to impart proper'closing tension to thejaws to grip them for the sewing operation.

"In order that the jaws be adjusted away from eachothe'r'to a sufiicient extent to permit the insertion 'therebetween of any desired size of button a screw 7 5 is sho'wn as threaded through a bloclr 7 6 fixed to the rear side of the portion 28 of one of the jaws and impinging at its free end on a similar but solid block 77 on the opposite side jaw. These blocks may be fixed to these jaws by the studs 33 by which the upper ends of the leaf springs 32 are attached and the end of the spring 70 may also be fixed to these same studs. By turning the knurled head 78 of this adjusting screw the spacing of the jaws may be'readily accomplished to take the desired size of button.

lVith this construction it will be seen that this clamp is constructed for holding either two hole or four hole buttons and since memhere are provided with which the faces of along one edge as shown in Figure 3 the buttons may be engaged at three spaced points about its circumference, the buttons are prevented ,fromtilt'in g to such an extent as might interfere with the proper passage of the needle through the sewing holes. For

example,a button having a thin portion at 90 being supported against tilting is entirely satisfactorily handled in this machine and large thick buttons such as the four hole buttons shown in Figures 5 and 6 may also be successfully handled, the leaf springs for supportlng' them yielding sufficiently from the flanges 31.01 the aw members to permit them to be entered therebetween. Having thus described an embodiment of this invention-it should be evident that various changes and modifications mightbe made therein without departing from its spirit or scope as'detined by the appended claims; I claim I 1. In a button clamp, a button engaging jaw shaped to engage the top of a button, a member resiliently urged upward into en gagement with the lower face of the button, and means to limit the extent to which said member may bcmoved downwardly relatively to said jaw. 3 2. In a button clamp, a button engaging jawhaving a lip overlying the button, a lip underlying the button and resiliently urged toward the overlyinglip, for limiting the amount may be separated.

3. In a button clamp, a button engaging jaw shaped to engage the edge of the butand apositive stop to which said lips 'ton, and a resilient member fixed to said jaw wardly directed end to engagethe edge of a button, and a spring arm made fast to the rear face of said downwardly bent portion,

underlying said forwardly and inwardly -d1rectedportions and normally pressing upwardly thereagainst and projecting beneath the button, said arm having a finger portion projecting over a port-ion of said jaw and normally spaced therefrom and serving as a stop to limit the distance to which the button-engaging portion of said arm may be moved'downwardly relatively to said jaw.

5. A button clamp comprising a jaw formed of a bar bent downwardly, forwardly and then inwardly and formed on its in wardly directed end to engage the edge of a button and having a lip extending over the upper face of the button, and a spring arm made fast to the rear face of said downwardly bent portion, underlying said forwardly and inwardly directed portions and normally pressing upwardly thereagainst a and projecting beneath the button, said arm button and having a lip extending over the upper face of the button, a spring arm made fast" to the rear face of said downwardly bent portion, underlying said forwardly and inwardly directed portions and normally pressing upwardly thereagainst and projecting beneath the button, said arm having a finger portion projecting over a portion of said-jaw and normally spaced therefrom and serving as a stop to limit the distance to which the button-engaging portion of said armvmay be moved downwardly relatively to "said jaw, said spring arm projecting beyond said lip.

7. A button clamp comprising a jaw formed of a bar bent downwardly, forwardly and then inwardly and formed on its in wardly directed end to engage the edge of a button and having a lip extending over the upper face of the button, a spring arm made fast to the rear face of said downwardly bent port-ion, underlying said forwardly and inwardly directed portions and normally pressing upwardly thereagainst and projecting beneath the button, said arm having a finger portion projecting over a portion of said jaw and normally spaced therefrom and serving as a stop to limit the distance to which the button-engaging portion of said arm may be moved downwardly relatively i -,to said jaw, said spring arm projecting be- 7 yond said lip, and means for guiding the button-engaging portion of said arm rela tive to said jaw.

8. A button clamp comprising a jaw formed of a bar bent downwardly, forwardby and then inwardly and formed on its inwardly directed end to engage the edge of a. button and having a lip extending over the upper face of the button, a spring ar-ni made fast to the rear face of wz rdly bent portion, underlying said forwardly and inwardly directed portionsand' normally pressing upwardly thereagainsl' and projecting beneath the butto said arm having a finger portion projecting over a portion of said jaw and normally spaced therefrom and serving as a stop to limit the distance to which the button-engaging portion of said arm inay be moved downwardly relatively to said jaw, and a pin projecting upwardly'fromj the forward portion of said arm and guided in an opening in. said jaw. V

9.;A button clamp comprising a aw formed of a bar bent downwardly, forward ly and then inwardly and formed on its inwardly directed end to engage the edge of a button and having a lip extending over said downthe upper face of the button, a spring arm 'madc fast to the rear face of said downwardly bent portion, underlying saidv forarm relative to said aw. I

10. A button clamp comprising a pair of pivoted side j awe,- and a rear jaw slidable between said side jaws, a spring for urging.

said rear jaw forwardly, connections be tween said side and rear aws causing forward movement of-said rear jaw to effect,

motion toward each other of said side jaws to bring all of said jaws toward each other, and a spring connecting said side jaws and urging them toward each other.

In testimonywhereof Ihave affixed my signature.

ROBERT L. LYONS. 

